Brother Maynard Shurley, along
with other Native Americans across our land, is delighted that Kateri Tekakwitha
will be canonized this month.

When asked about the news of Kateri Tekakwitha’s
October 21 canonization, Brother Maynard Shurley, OFM, replies, “It’s about
time we have a Native American saint!” The 56-yearold Navajo friar saw the news
as a great source of pride for all Native Americans when St.
Anthony Messenger interviewed him in New Mexico last
February.

Brother Maynard was born close to the Navajo reservation in a small
town east of Gallup, New Mexico. He serves as the local minister
or guardian of the small Franciscan friary at Tohatchi, New Mexico,
on the reservation. He was recently elected to the provincial council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, based in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. Brother Maynard speaks to the people in either
Navajo or English, as needed. He walks easily between cultures.